Vanguard #27 (09/20/23)

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“Too Sexy” Tiffany Lynn Page is sitting in a chair holding a glass of white wine in the living room of the Grand Bohemian Suite of the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama.

Tiffany Lynn Page: People have always expected us to fall. Maybe not so much expecting it but rather wished for it. Yet here we are. People like Duke, Alan Envy, Bianca, and Honey are all thriving. We are just doing what we are doing being great and we will all continue to do so. As you all know by now, the Royal Couple and I will be taking on Duplex Royal and Lolli Pop…or is it Laura? Whatever. That is immaterial in the grand scheme of things because all that matters is my side is successful.

Tiffany takes a sip of wine before putting the glass back on the table next to the chair she is sitting on.

Tiffany Lynn Page: Now we all know that there is a chance Mikaela is still upset with me for preventing her from helping out Eddy Todd when Duke was beating Eddy down several months ago. No hard feelings, girl, we were both supporting our guys. But we probably know that people of your ilk will still bitch about such things. Which is a real shame…for you that is because when we get down to it Honey, Bianca, and I are just focused on our own success. And as we all know that when Bianca, Honey, and myself get together we are very, very hard to stop. Right, ladies?

The camera pans out to show Bianca and Honey sitting on the couch in the living room.

Queen Bianca Davis: Exactly, when it comes to the Royal Couple there isn’t a team here that compares, see we are the true standard bearers of the tag team division around here, first of all we are so good that they haven’t been able to find us adequate competition in months! After we beat the Dungeons and Dragon losers, and became the Unity Champions. Now, we have people all over bending the knee time and time again they realize being in our light is a way better option than being left in the shadows.

Princess Honey Rydel: Exactly Queen, people whine we haven’t defended these belts well. How is that our fault when no one has stepped up? That is the fault of the teams in this company, for refusing to step up to your Unity Champions.

Tiffany Lynn Page: Like seriously, ladies, you should have both the Unity and Global Tag Team Championships. Just like I’ll get the Vanguard Championship away from Cordelia at Fall of Man in the triple threat match with Griffin. Which is why Laura…

Bianca clears her throat.

Tiffany Lynn Page: Or Lollie Pop rather and Duplex Royale. Duplex Royale? What does that even mean? That just makes me think of the conversation that Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield had in the beginning of Pulp Fiction. Or are you a pair that rents out duplexes? That is a head scratcher but we must digress whatever you ladies like to call yourself is irrelevant because unlike you three ladies the three of us know who we are.

Queen Bianca Davis: Indeed, we are the three women who are gonna prove we are better than you. These titles on me and Honey’s shoulders are just the start to all of that, a victory tonight is just extra notice.

Tiffany Lynn Page: So we can appreciate how all three of these ladies are going to beat their chest, threaten us with bodily harm, and say they are going to end us. How do we know this? It is because they are predictable sycophants and that is why all the honor and prestige is on our side. Which is why we will continue to ascend in anything and everything we do because we are just that damn good. Bye bye!

Tiffany waves goodbye in a taunting fashion as Bianca and Honey laugh.

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Set up by the gorilla position, Abigail Lindsay can be seen sitting on the motorcycle she normally rides to the ride. With a blank expression on her face, she wasted no time addressing the camera.

Abigail Lindsay: Hmmm... what a tangled web we weave, ain’t that right, Jessi?

The casual observer would characterize this predicament as complicated. You are my girlfriend’s (Morgan Payne’s) best friend. Scratch that. Soul sister. Gym buddy. Etc, etc, etc. The real Kingdom and The Queens of Chaos are bosom buddies. And... we used to date. Kinda, sorta. We did share a bed. Until we didn’t. Not a nasty dissociation. Fair to say we got bored of each other? And why would that be, Jessi? Was it me pulling away? Was it me not feeding you enough attention? Was it you being a bad friend? Lets ask Jordan [Majors] how great a friend you can be, hmmm?

Abigail pauses, allowing the mention to linger. It’s not secret Jordan and Jessi are having a disagreement over an exchange they had in NFW over the fact Jessi is going to challenge Jordan in Zion for her World Championship.

Abigail Lindsay: You are threatening to take away a prize that means a lot to Jordie-Poo. Got so giddy over the prospect of beating her for a World Championship, you allowed your true feelings to show? Don’t be ashamed. I am not criticizing you, in fact, I believe whatever issues you and Jordan have, you’ll rise above. Just like you and Ayu, ain’t that right? Battling the people closest to you is part of your charm. It’s what makes Jessi Ozbourne the most charming, polarizing, lovable and most hated woman... one of the most hated women in professional wrasslin. Getting into one dubious conflict after another, if you are willing to allow your ambition and your stubbornness to push your friendships to the brink of armageddon, then us, meeting in a tournament for a championship opportunity is business as usual, eh?

Abigail playfully winks.

Abigail Lindsay: Ain’t nothing more that Jessi Ozbourne loves is being an almighty conqueror. Winning championships. Being at the forefront of people's minds. Despite your body breaking down faster than the normal person your age, gotta become a certified wrasslin legend, no matter the cost, hmm? Lil ole me is gonna do you a favor, from the bottom of my heart of course. You mentioned somewhere you were looking to take a break sometime in the near future. If you beat me and advance in the tournament, ultimately win and become a champion, you taking a break won’t be possible, eh, the only way to push you to take an actual break is to take something from you.

I don’t know where we stand. Are we friends? Eh, who knows, but what I do know is I didn’t come to Hybrid to play second fiddle to you. I am here to establish The Kingdom’s presence in this company. Morgan planted The Kingdom’s flag in Zion. I’ll plant our flag here. World domination, you know what that’s like. So, Behold The Kingdom. And... Serenity. Now!

Abigail snaps her fingers. The scene fades to black.



“...come on, Xaria. Wake up.”

From the Soul Garden catering area, a camera focuses on the back of a blonde-haired woman with legs for days. For the briefest of moments, there’s a slight pause on Chelsea Pryce’s lovely rear before zooming out. Standing in front of her is the red-haired beauty, Xaria Linette, who apologetically bows her head.

Xaria Linette: Desolé, Mademoiselle Chelsea. A lot has happened…

Chelsea Pryce: Believe me, I know. Hell, the entire world probably knows. Knox is treating you like shit.

Hearing this, Xaria rapidly shakes her head and folds her manicured hands in front of her.

Xaria Linette: Non… He’s going through a lot. We both are. That’s why we needed some time apart from each other. We’re still very much in love--

Chelsea Pryce: Are you?

The Older Veteran interrupts. Sporting her ring attire, Chelsea folds her arms and scoffs.

Chelsea Pryce: Knox was originally booked to compete against Abigail Lindsay in this showcase of Vanguard. Then Mr. Vance realized the error of booking and made the correction for the Path of Destiny Singles Tournament Quarterfinal Match. Suddenly, Knox is no longer on the card. Suddenly, he’s not here to support you.

There’s a quiet moment from the Frenchwoman before she sighs. She, too, is dressed in her own colorful ring attire.

Xaria Linette: Matthew is simply busy, Chelsea. He wrestles for quite a few companies and he’s trying to rebuild both his Monterey house and his friend’s gym. Please… let’s focus on the Path of Destiny Tag Team Tournament.

With a roll of her eyes, Mother Nature unfolds her arms.

Chelsea Pryce: Fine. Two weeks ago, we made it past the First Class Bitches. Now we’re dealing with Natural Resources, a tandem that was out of commission for a while. Yes, GoGo was medically cleared to compete. Yes, they defeated the 10th Street Kings. However, their good luck ends tonight. We’re going to even the score with them and advance to the semifinals.

With a solemn nod, the Rainbow Angel takes a deep breath.

Xaria Linette: Let’s not underestimate them, mademoiselle. They’re best friends. They were in the original incarnation of HYBRID Wrestling. They were the Twin Star Champions. Despite our wrestling experience, we, The Sovereign, are still a new team. We’re not completely in sync with one another yet.

Chelsea Pryce: Only because you’ve been blinded with hearts in your eyes for Knox. Focus, Xaria. We were supposed to train together last week, but you suddenly decided to fly to Paris fuckin’ France without letting me know ahead of time.

Xaria Linette: I-I’m sorry, Chelsea. I really am… It was just something I needed to do.

Chelsea Pryce: Tch… Whatever. Our match is next. Don’t fall behind.

With a turn of her heels, Chelsea heads down the hallway in the direction of the ring. Xaria lowers her head for a moment before she checks her duffel bag. To her surprise, she tilts her head and draws something out: a small notecard. She reads it to herself and a smile comes to the surface. The nearby cameraman moves a little closer to see what it says.


Xaria Linette: Merci, mon Amour… Merci.

She kisses the notecard, pockets it, and quickly follows after Chelsea.



Vanguard returns from commercial break. Bernadette Olson and Jacob Frankel sit at the commentary table.

Bernadette Olson: Welcome back to Vanguard, live from Orlando! We’ve got an exciting m̶̏ͅa̷̛̹̻ť̷̢͘c̶̠̪͒h̸̗̿ṷ̶̜̂p̷̭͆ coming up where À̷͇y̸̤͑͠n̶̠̬͋e̷͉̚ ̷͚̩́̆Nakamura takes o̵̗̖̽n̷͖͋̀ ̵͇̦͠Ċ̷͈͊ȟ̸̥̩̀ặ̷̠͝r̵͔̩̓͌l̶̲͆ẽ̵̪̒s̵̗̔ M̴̨̢̟̤̏̓o̸͉͐̾r̴̳͙̥̀́̾g̵͎͎̥͎̈͜ậ̴̉n̵̠̯͂͐

The screen cuts to static for a few moments before finally fading away to reveal a bright, all white room. The room is empty aside from two chairs placed in the center. There’s an eerie stillness to the scene as nothing happens for a few long, silent moments.

In a brief, blink and you’ll miss it moment a pair of figures dressed in black appear, sitting in those chairs before disappearing as fast as they appeared. As they vanish, unintelligible whispering can be heard before going back to silence.

Soon the light in the room begins to dim before flickering and going out entirely. As the room goes black the whispering returns. This time, it’s much easier to understand

?: You can’t keep us away forever…

?: We are still here…

?: We’re waaaaatching…

Suddenly the lights burst to life once again, washing the room in light. Suddenly two figures dressed all in black are sitting in the chairs. As the shot adjusts to the brightness, the figures are revealed to be FREAKSHOW, Alexis Lemon and Derrick Vayden. Lexi wears a smile while Derrick’s smile is barely noticeable.

Alexis Lemon: You can’t keep us away forever…

Derrick Vayden: The freak flags are slowly spreading throughout the audience. They know what they want.

Alexis Lemon: And we want to perform for them!

Derrick Vayden: So give us what we want. More importantly, give the fans what they want.

Alexis Lemon: The freaks are out. And we want to play. So let us p̸̢̣̦̠̏̏̂̉̋ͅl̷̹̹̅a̸͓͍̬̓̿͘͘ÿ̸̱͓̣͇̍̐̈́̈́!̴̖̻̭̪͗̀

The static suddenly washes over the screen again and when it dissipates, the room is once again empty as the shot slowly fades to black…



Following a short ad break, the cameras return to ringside as HANABIE’s “Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now” comes on over the PA, immediately getting a mixed reaction from the fans of Tuscaloosa. From the back, Chiaki Sanada of “2 Broke Chickz” walks out onto the stage, clad in her usual baggy clothing with the hood of her jacket engulfing her head. Beneath it, her face is concealed behind a blue and black Hannya mask, framed by her black and blue bangs. Her usual bounciness in her step is absent as the young woman makes her way to the ring with slow yet deliberate steps. She circles around the ring where she snatches up two microphones. One from the table and the other right out of Spirit Montego’s hand. Spirit throws her hands up in defeat as Chiaki rolls into the ring, rises to her feet and drops the second mic onto the mat, kicking it a few feet from her. She raises Spirit’s mic up to her mask covered face; her words muffled but clear as she speaks. In Japanese, with the assistance of subtitles from the backstage production crew.

Chiaki Sanada: SAITO-SAN!

Chiaki paces slowly, back and forth in the center of the ring, finally stopping and turning to focus her attention on the stage.

Chiaki Sanada: It doesn’t matter to me if we do this in two languages or one. We don’t agree on a lot but if there’s one thing we do agree on, it’s that we want this, between us, over and done with. Now, as much as Jane insisted on coming out here with me. I told her to stay in the back. I told Halo, Rain and Goldi to stay in the back. Tell the rest of the Queens, tell your little wife, tell them all to keep their asses in their seats. But you? Get your ass out here. I’m not leaving this fucking ring until you do and if anybody else but Risa Saito comes through that curtain with anything to say about it - I don’t care if it’s a referee, I don’t care if it’s someone from the locker room looking to gain favor with management, I don’t care if it’s the Head of Security himself - anybody who gets in the way of what’s about to go down here, I’ll have the cleanup crew collecting your fucking teeth into a jar.

For just a brief moment, she switches to English.

Chiaki Sanada: Saito-san.Out here. NOW!

Almost as soon as Chiaki stops speaking, "KARATE" by BABYMETAL starts, and the crowd pops, but not at their usual volume. Sure, it seems like everyone is cheering, but they do so with baited breath based on the previous encounters between these two women. Risa Lemon steps through the curtain, dressed in fashionably torn jeans and a Kawaii Trash Pandas GO! jacket, face obscured under her own neon Tiger mask. She makes her way down the ramp, alone as requested, and makes her way into the ring, picking up the mic but never taking her eyes off the danger in front of her as she slowly removes her mask and begins to speak.

Risa Lemon: You got me out here, Chiaki. No Queens. No Alexis. Just you and me. And you're right. I do want this to be done. I've been trying to end it since the whole damn thing started between Gutter Ballet and the Queens of Chaos. But things just… continued. I've tried to apologize. I tried to help you and Jane out of a no win situation. But clearly none of that was enough. We've both drawn blood on each other since this started. So go ahead. Let's hear what it is you have to say so that we can just be done with this.

The Hannya-faced woman stares through the eye holes of her mask as Risa speaks. As she finishes, an uncomfortable silence falls between them as the Tuscaloosa crowd looks on. Chiaki raises the mic again.

Chiaki Sanada: Things just…continued, you say? No, Saito-san. Nothing continued. It was done. It was over. At Heatstroke, we were finished. Nothing more had to come of it. You got what you wanted. You, and Jessi Ozborne, and Jessie Robinson and Mikaela Callaway. You pulled together with your little Peanut Man that you parade around as a token of your good will, threw your swerve ball with Lollie and you got the job done. This was over then, but that wasn’t enough for you, was it? No. You had to throw salt in the wound and come banging on our door and when I didn’t want to hear any of it, you just couldn’t take no for an answer and you had to press the issue.

Chiaki’s starting to get more animated now as she begins to fidget in place, her emotions starting to rise.

Chiaki Sanada: You pressed the issue. You got put on your ass. Again. It was over. But you couldn’t let it go, could you? Somebody got one up on everyone’s favorite darling Super Tiger when she didn’t get her way so you had to make things personal and bring my struggles into it. My struggles which I had to grit my teeth to even share on Sakura’s Haven months ago. Then you wanna sit there and talk about “well, my struggles, my hardships. You ain’t the only one, you dumb little tramp!” Bitch, let me tell you something that I’m probably going to regret sharing with the world and these people who don’t even give a shit, but you’re gonna hear it. Unless your struggles to live your dream involved you bouncing from hotel to hotel, lying on your back at sixteen years old for grimey ass salary men, looking to blow off some steam after a shitty day at work, just to make sure you had a place to sleep the night before getting up to train again? I don’t wanna hear about whatever “struggles” you, the Queens of Chaos, or that mouthy little blonde bitch that decided to pop back up in your life went through. Got it? I’m sick of everyone acting like I’ve got it so easy. Living here in the land of opportunity and I’m still scraping and clawing to make people see I’m more than just a middle of the card attraction. That I actually give a fuck where my career goes and I’m willing to work for it without getting handouts for smiling all cute and spouting dumb fucking catch phrases on twitter or a microphone! I’ve been busting ass in this country with so few people supporting me, I can count them on one hand and I’m still bouncing around from promotion to promotion before I can hit my year mark with them. So to say that I want this to end? You’re goddamn right, I want it to end, Saito-san. Eventually, something’s gotta give. Because I’m tired. I’m tired of putting my body on the line with nothing to show for it

She points out towards the crowd.

Chiaki Sanada: I’m tired of these fucking people looking up to people who look down on me, simply because my aesthetic might be different from theirs. Or because when I try to speak to someone in this country’s language, the majority of people just go “awwwww, kawaii ne!!! She’s so cute!”

Chiaki turns around in a circle, mockingly clapping her hands. When she finishes, she turns back to Risa.

Chiaki Sanada: I’m tired of giving out more than I get back. I’m tired of being the fucking laughing stock to everyone in the locker room. I’m tired of the self proclaimed royalty in this fucking sport. I’m tired of the Queens. I’m tired of the Kings. I’m tired of the Empresses. I’m tired of the Lords. I’m tired of you.

As Chiaki finishes, she jabs a finger into Risa’s shoulder and gives her a hard push with it, stepping back herself and staring at her for a hard moment. Lemon takes a step back, her jaw hard as she drops her mask. She looks down at the mat they're standing on.

Risa Lemon: You have had it tough, Chiaki. I won't deny that. It breaks my heart to think that a fire so absolutely vibrant had to struggle for so long to finally bloom into a worldwide name. But as someone who has struggled the way you have, you think it's fair to just dismiss mine? No. If we're gonna talk about struggles, let's talk.

Risa removes her jacket, a simple white tank top on underneath. Bruises adorn her chest and arms from the almost nonstop work load she carries across multiple companies.

Risa Lemon: I began my training for this life at six years old. I never had a childhood either. Was it as bad as yours? No. I'm not saying that either. But picture this, if you will. There's a building in Kyoto, Japan, named after my family, and more specifically my father. A great, wonderful man in the Japanese wrestling scene. A man who, unbeknownst to the world until right now, beat me for every single little mistake I ever made. Throw a forearm incorrectly? Accidentally trip or slip on a springboard? Miss a moonsault? Yeah. And my mom? One of the most beloved wrestlers to come from Kyoto ever? She was the good, obedient Japanese wife and just sat there and watched it all happen. I was hit and kicked and slapped into the wrestler I've become today by a man who I was supposed to love and be loved by unconditionally. Not only was I sad when I lost my parents in that fire. I was relieved.

Risa got into Chiaki's face, foreheads mere inches apart.

Risa Lemon: You're tired of Queens? Fine. Fuck the Queens of Chaos. This isn't the Queen of Bows or the Idol Queen standing in your face right now. This is the goddamned Super Tiger. A young Asian woman beaten and hammered into the world famous performer she is today. Fuck Kawaii Trash Pandas GO, fuck the Queens of Chaos, hell, fuck my own wife Alexis Lemon. Saito goddamned Risa. In the face of a woman she respects and recognizes as someone who's busted her ass to be on the same level as she is. But guess what Chi Chi. You aren't. You're not on my level. Not even close. Not yet.

Risa snarls, shoving Chi Chi away from her.

Risa Lemon: So fuck you and your self important crap. Fuck you and your whining and your inability to accept a simple fucking apology from someone who thought she was your friend.

Chiaki fumbles back two steps from the shove but holds her ground. It’s hard to read her from under the mask but it doesn’t take long before the woman reaches back and pulls the hood of her jacket down off of her head. She reaches up to the sides of the mask and flips a clasp on each side, loosening the harness before taking it by the bottom and lifting the Hannya-esque cover off of her face. There’s a groan of empathy from the crowd as Chiaki stands before Risa, purple and dark reddish bruising over her nose and underneath her misty eyes. Stitches and bandaging line where her septum connects to her upper lip. She drops the mask to the mat and lifts the mic again.

Chiaki Sanada: I’m not on your level? Is that it? And why is that? Is it because I don’t spread myself out across multiple promotions, looking to soak up the attention from anywhere I can get it? Because I would rather dedicate my time and energy to one company worth my time? Is it because, kami forbid, I’m not even 25 yet and I don’t have a wall of goddamn championships of which nobody even fucking remembers that I won anyway? Sound familiar? Wait, that’s right. You can’t even remember everything you’ve won. That’s how vain the Super Tiger has gotten!

Chiaki wipes an eye with a sleeve, careful of her damaged nose but her hardened expression never changes, nor do her eyes ever leave Risa as she motions to the bruises.

Chiaki Sanada: I’m supposed to be impressed by this? It comes with the life, Saito-san, or didn’t you remember that? You wanna tell sob stories about your father showing tough love through your training? I wish mine cared half as much. You wanna call it whining? Look in the goddamn mirror because the only one whining here is you. Training under your father evidently wasn’t that horrible because here you are. Still passionate about what you do. You never had to hide it. So yeah. Maybe I’m not on your level. But that’s the difference between you and me. I don’t measure my success by comparison to anybody I have to share a locker room with. I don’t walk through the curtain with the thought in the back of my mind of being the next Super Tiger. The next Yukiko Kusanagi. Or even the next “Mad Dog” Sanada. I walk through that curtain with one purpose and that’s show everyone who the fuck Chiaki Sanada is. The girl who nobody believed in. The girl who nobody still believes in but at least I can look those people in the eye, just like I’m looking at you now and I can say in spite of it all? I. Never. Quit.

She lowers her microphone and gets face to face with Risa again. Lemon doesn't back down, having to look up just a bit due to her stature.

Risa Lemon: You better not quit. You better never, ever quit. See that's where we're scarily similar, Chi Chi. You and me? We're fighters. We never give up. The biggest difference? I didn't decide to wake up one day and be a bitch because someone wanted to say she was sorry for everything. So you need to go ahead and just back-

Risa forcefully shoved Chiaki's shoulder.

Risa Lemon: -the hell up and get out of my face.

Chiaki stumbles back two steps, and she’s right back up in Risa’s face, lifting the mic up. This time, she drops the Japanese and speaks clear as day for the audience.

Chiaki Sanada: Da fakku gon’ do if I don’t?! Eh?! You gon’ rip more piercing out face?! You gon’ call Chi Chi crackwhore?! EH?!

Chiaki starts to lower the mic and her other hand flies up and just slaps Risa across the cheek, eliciting a jeer from the crowd. She steps back, spreading her arms out invitingly as she stares hard at the woman in front of her.

Chiaki Sanada: You said this couldn’t be fixed by words alone, Saito-san. On that, we agree. So let’s cut the bullshit back and forth and agree on something else. When does this end…and how far are you willing to go to see it through? Because honestly? For all the blood that’s been spilled between the two of us, it’s been made obvious that we still have a lot to spill. So why don’t we cut to the chase? You. Me. Fall of Man. One more time.

Risa doesn't look at Chiaki. Her cheek slapped, her head turned. She didn't move as Sanada spoke, slowly turning to face the woman as she took two steps forward.

Risa Lemon: Done.

Lemon dropped the mic and charged, barreling into Chiaki and pushing her into the ropes before locking her into a Muay Thai clinch, driving knees up into the woman's stomach and ribs. Shots keep flying as Chiaki is backed into a corner. She eventually manages to catch Risa underneath a leg and use the imbalance to take her to the mat and the fists start flying between the two as Tuscaloosa goads the fight on. Security’s not having it, however, as Trenton “Forge” Mitchell leads nearly an army of staff who flood the ring and work quickly to pull the two women apart. They get them into opposite corners but Chiaki keeps shouting across the ring in Japanese and Risa Saito-Lemon slips through the mob of security holding her back, rushes across the ring and dives over the group of men and women holding Chiaki back and the fists start flying again.

For a second time, they get them pulled apart with Risa kicking and thrashing as she’s pulled away. Chiaki starts to look settled down before suddenly catching one guard in the face with an elbow and she breaks loose, diving over the masses and into Risa again. Like a swarm of locusts, the security guards rip the two apart again and Trenton Mitchell himself grabs Chiaki by the feet and effortlessly pulls her out of the ring while Becca “Bruiser” Maguire holds Risa back against the far end of the ring in a corner, talking her down. From the back, roster members even start to pour out from the locker room, no doubt at the behest of Aloysius Marcus Vance IV to ensure the two women stay separated. Out at ringside, Chiaki wrenches free from Forge by slipping out of her jacket before snatching it away from him as she backs up the ramp, breathing heavily and sneering at Risa inside the ring. Lemon pushes past Psycho to grab the mic, seething, her hair wildly out of her ponytail.

Risa Lemon: YOU AND ME BITCH! EXPLODING BARBED WIRE MASSACRE AT FALL OF MAN!

Risa spikes the mic, backing up, rage on her face. As the crowd gasps in shock, Chiaki suddenly scrambles forward, slipping past Forge. He runs to catch her but she only goes far as ringside to snatch up the microphone where it bounced out to the floor. She backs away from the giant of a man, lifting the mic up with a crazed smile on her bandaged, bruised face.

Chiaki Sanada: DAT HOW YOU WANNA DO DIS?!

She laughs, almost crazily into the mic as her eyes go wide like a feral animal.

Chiaki Sanada: YOU’RE! ON!

She underhand tosses the mic up against the ropes where it bounces back to the floor. Chiaki backs up the ramp, arms out, middle fingers up before she turns and leaves up the ramp. An unsettling new gleam in her eyes.


Fans are awaiting the next match... but suddenly the lights go out. The crowd is wondering what's coming next...they are then interrupted by the chords of a guitar ringing through the air. Soon the solo turns into a cover of the Godfather theme. The spotlight shines on a lone figure on stage sitting on a stool. It looks to be none other than Griffin Hawkins, playing on his gold guitar. The crowd begins cheering at the impromptu concert, soaking in music. After a few mintues, Griffin speaks on his headset microphone.

Griffin Hawkins: Tuscaloosa, Alabama... welcome to Jukebox Country!

The crowd goes wild. Griffin smirks, putting down the guitar as it rests at the side of the chair.

Griffin Hawkins: Now... as you can see, things didn't exactly go as planned in my match with Tiffany Lynn Page as what was the match of the night between two of the best on the HYBRID roster fighting for the right to face Cordelia Clark for the Vanguard Title. I didn't win... but I didn't lose either as the match was a double count out...

The crowd boos.

Griffin Hawkins: But it's okay! Because it looks like there are two number one contenders as me and TIffany Lynn Page are gonna fight it out with Cordelia in a Triple Threat Match! Now... most would complain... most would get angry that you don't have to get pinned to lose the match. But I'm different than that. Because anyone who knows me knows that I thrive on competiton. I get to go in that very ring and tear it up with two of the best this company has to offer. And when it's all said and done, I will be the new Vanguard Champion...

The crowd cheers at the possibility.

Griffin Hawkins: On one hand you got Tiffany Lynn Page. I already know what she's all about as me and her just got done kicking the hell out of one another... and let me tell you ladies and gentlemen, she's a tough act to follow. She kicks like a mule and bites a Crocodile... just the kind of opponent I've been looking for. But this time if its down to me and her... there's a guarantee that one of us will be champion. I respect Tiffany and all that she's done... but deep down in my heart of hearts I have to know, can I beat her? Can I pin her one two three when it's all said and done? I have to find that out for myself.

He then turns serious.

Griffin Hawkins: And then there's the champ herself, Cordelia Clark. I can honestly say that she is a fighting champion. She hasn't run from anybody, she hasn't ducked anybody, she's one of the most celebrated champions in HYBRID right now alongside Nathaniel Dixon. She asked the question... why go for her title? Why not go for one that's a higher one? Simple. I want to start at the bottom and work my way to the top. I'm not one of those guys who returns and expects the world handed to him on a silver platter... I want to earn my way. And that Vanguard TItle is the perfect place to start. I will say this...

He picks up the guitar.

Griffin Hawkins: It doesn't matter if it's Tiffany Lynn Page... or Cordelia... somebody's gonna leave with the gold, and somebody's gonna get rocked!

He plays another solo as the crowd cheers once again.

---

We cut backstage to the Queens of Chaos locker room as we see Lollie Pop, Mikaela Callaway and Jessie Robinson all getting themselves ready for their six person tag match while Ollie the Honorary Queen is pacing back and forth in front of them shaking his head as he looks to the floor.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: I don’t like this Queens… I don’t like this one bit!

He stops in front of Lollie and looks up at her and points.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: You, Lollie! Are a Queen!

Ollie then steps in front of Mikaela and points to her now.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: You, Mikaela! Are a Queen!

Now he steps in front of Jessie and points to them.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: And you, Jessie! Are a Queen!

The Honorary Queen now points off camera.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: That false Queen, Bianca Davis and her so-called ‘royals’?! How dare they parade around these halls acting like they are superior to us! WE… are the Queens of Chaos! WE--

Lollie jumps up to her feet and rests her hand onto Ollie’s shoulder.

Lollie Pop: Golly gumdrops, Ollie! You need to relax! We all know your head is in a fizzy tizzy because of your upcoming wedding! But Mikaela, Jessie and I are super duper aware of what those meanie jelly beanies are doing! And we also know what they are capable of and that we gotta watch out for them trying to pull a fast one on us! But we’re ready for all of that and then some!

Mikaela finishes with her kneepads, slaps the one she was applying and stands up with a bit of a hop to her step, beginning to roll her shoulders to stay loose.

Mikaela Callaway: Look, Ollie, don’t worry about it. We got this, don’t we y’all? There’s three of us out there, and we’re gonna have you out there too to watch our backs. Right now, we’re sure of four things. Four.

Mikaela holds up her hand with four fingers then closes her fist and starts counting.

Mikaela Callaway: Bianca Davis? Ain’t shit. We found that out when I defended the Iron Heart Title against her pet gorilla. Because I sure as hell didn’t wrestle her for it. Honey Rydell? Ain’t shit.

Mikaela pauses, trying to think of an example to validate her point then shrugs.

Mikaela Callaway: I dunno. She just ain’t shit. Plain and simple. Tiffany Lynn Page? Wait for it… Ain’t shit. Her and her sisters and Bianca Davis are all carbon copies of each other. Bleach blonde plastic rich floozies that can’t get the damn job done themselves without playing lowball. All they care about is fame and attention. Hell, I wonder how many autographs they were hoping to sign when the Barbie movie came out. Only thing’s kept me away from seein’ it yet is tickets are always sold out. Probably on account of them! Now where was I?

Mikaela pauses, looking lost for a second. She looks at Ollie who just holds up four fingers and wiggles his pinky. Mikaela snaps and points.

Mikaela Callaway: Thank you! Four?

She shrugs her hands up and motions to herself, then to Lollie, then to Jessie Robinson.

Mikaela Callaway: We’re the goddamn Queens of Chaos. That makes us…?

She motions to Ollie, giving him his cue.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: Ah! Un. Like. Anyone!

Mikaela and Ollie high five.

Mikaela Callaway: So don’t you sweat it none. Between the three of us with you out there? We got this. It’s all familiar territory for us. Especially me and Jessie. Ain’t that right, sweetie?

Jessie nods her head, her normal smile is replaced with a look of focus and determination as she looks around at the room.

Jessie Robinson: Me and Mikaela have dealt with Bianca and her "royals" before. Heck, on the very first show, I was forced to team with her and I even picked up my very first win in HYBRID over Bianca. I know what she likes to do and is capable of. Bianca and her little stooges are really no threat to three of the bestest friends around in us. There isn't a soul who can compare to us when we're firing on all cylinders and tonight, it's our night!

Ollie the Honorary Queen: Yeeeeeeah!

And with that, the four of them walk away off camera as we cut elsewhere.



Within the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a cameraman has found himself inside Nathaniel Dixon’s locker room. He’s dressed in active wear, not quite his ring attire but clothes for working out. Seated on the black leather couch, the HYBRID rEvolution Iron Heart Champion appears to be on a video call with someone, though the camera’s unable to capture the visual of who yet. Nathaniel carefully handles his Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 in one hand.

Nathaniel Dixon: ...I wish you would return to the ring, watashi no ai. You know the fans miss you. Team 47 is incomplete without you.

Team 47 is the name of the tag team between Nathaniel Dixon and--

Nathaniel Dixon: Keiji-sama…

--Keiji Sugiwara. Nathaniel’s first-ever love. Everyone sees a loving, vulnerable side to the Intellectual Evolution. Finally, the camera is close enough for the microphone to pick up this conversation.

Keiji Sugiwara: Awww, Nate-sama… Maybe one of these days, I’ll make my way back to the ring. But hey, you’re the Iron Heart Champ! Focus on the gold. You finally have your first challenger, right?

His boyfriend grins on-screen. Ah, what a cheeky change of subject. While Nathaniel easily spots this, he closes his earth-colored eyes and simply chuckles.

Nathaniel Dixon: Yes. Ilda Matsuda… We’re familiar with one another in the ring. While I was victorious before, she has improved since then. I watched the triple threat bout and she was most impressive. Championship gold is quite the motivator. She’ll be better than ever.

A knowing little smile forms on Keiji’s face. He appreciates his boyfriend becoming far more tactical and far less arrogant.

Keiji Sugiwara: Exactly! You gotta focus on defending your title. I don’t want to distract you, neh? Oh! Don’t forget you’re set to face Cordelia tonight!

Nathaniel Dixon: Oh, I’m well aware, my love. Miss Cordelia Clark is the only two-time champion in this rEvolution of HYBRID. She leads the Vanguard with pride. As the singles champions of honor and respect, we must represent the company to the best of our abilities.

Is that another shot at Duke Andrews?

Shamelessly, yes.

Nathaniel Dixon: Miss Clark and I are well aware of how blatantly disrespectful Duke Andrews is. Painstakingly, he’s the reigning and defending Global Heavyweight Champion. He doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself and he doesn’t extend any credit to his opponents from their matches.

It makes Nathaniel scoff. In a way, Duke sort of reminds him of himself. He loathes how haughty and arrogant he once was. At least he never underestimated and undermined his opponents.

Keiji Sugiwara: You’re better than him, sweetheart. You’re the best in the company!

Keiji’s smile brings a smile back to Nathaniel’s face.

Nathaniel Dixon: Your bias aside…

Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. Before Nathaniel can even say a word, the door opens, and a frown surfaces on his face. His eyes focus on the intrusive one while he presses on.

Nathaniel Dixon: ...I’ll call you back later, Keiji-sama. Aishiteru.

Keiji Sugiwara: Huh? O-okay. I love you too, Nate!

Your Lord of Charisma offers him a weak yet warm smile before the video call ends. He sets his smartphone down on the coffee table before he rises to his feet.

Nathaniel Dixon: May I help you?

Finally, the camera pans back to reveal The Super-Kawaii Gaijin of Gore closing the door behind him.

Ollie Maverick: Hey, I had a request. Do you know anything about time travel? Any assistance you can offer in going back and helping un-ruin my life would be totally cool, but if you can’t offer that… I’ll take a pound of your flesh. Deli-sliced. Maybe a pound of sliced Swiss cheese as well. I’m making paninis.

Once again, Nathaniel’s frown returns. He makes his way around the coffee table slowly yet cautiously, his stance becoming a defensive one.

Nathaniel Dixon: If I knew time travel, don’t you think I would’ve attempted it already? I’d go back and save my late older sister, Caleigh, and my late brother-in-law, Henri. Of course, if I did this, you might have never met Ami. Your children might have never existed.

He closes his eyes and shakes his head slowly.

Nathaniel Dixon: Alas… there’s no going back, Oliver. You and I both know this. We have to make peace with the past and focus on the present. The future is an unknown entity. I’ve been trying to make things right for a while now. If you want to see Chris and Claire, you need to cooperate and improve your mental health.

The viewers at home can’t see this, but Nathaniel sees Ollie’s eye twitch the moment he mentions the names of the man’s children.

Ollie Maverick: Okay… first off. It’s ‘Ollie’. I’ve told you this before. ‘Oliver’ is a person who was created without his consent into a harsh and uncaring world. It’s…

Ollie stops himself and takes a few breaths.

Ollie Maverick: Moving on. I need to address my current dilemma. Ya see, I now have to figure out how I can circumvent being the losingest new star in HYBRID to get a shot at your title, especially since I just ate shit HARD in that tournament. I make a lot of threats for someone who has done nothing but lose here. Trust me, I’ll live up to my own hype… but first I have to figure out how to get my title shot against you AND I HAVE AN IDEA!!!

Ollie holds up a finger as he declares this, having a ‘EUREKA!’ moment.

Ollie Maverick: Baiting you into it and getting the crowd interested in seeing us fight.

After a time, Nathaniel opens his eyes and surveys the situation. He sees Ollie lick his palm for some reason, prompting him to raise an eyebrow.

Nathaniel Dixon: Tell me. How do you intend to do tha--

Nathaniel’s question is interrupted by a thoroughly disrespectful open palm smack across the face and the sound echoes throughout the locker room. The fans watching this on the HYBRID Tron are resonating with boos! Slowly, the Lord turns his head back towards the Manic Marvel.

Nathaniel Dixon: Well… I attempted to extend an olive branch. I suppose now you know… This means war.

Without hesitation, Nathaniel punches Ollie across the face! The fans are losing their shit as an emotionally intense brawl breaks out between the two, slugging away at one another. Suddenly, Ollie slams his right knee into Nathaniel’s ribs, doubling him over, then drives him through the coffee table with a double-leg takedown and furious punches! One strike catches Nathaniel’s left eye harshly before the latter kicks him off, tackling Ollie onto the couch -- and even knocking it over from sheer force! Forge, Becca, and more security arrive just in time as Ollie seems to have pulled a utility knife from his back pocket -- and he is very quickly and physically restrained. Coincidentally, Nathaniel’s right hand moved into his pocket and slid on silver brass knuckles. Before he thinks about a single swing, he sees Forge has restrained Ollie and lets out a groan.

Nathaniel Dixon: A box cutter? Have you lost your bloody mind?!

Ollie chuckles at Nathaniel’s words until he is removed from his locker room. There isn’t much of a struggle from him, though he does keep talking as security takes him away.

Ollie Maverick: What?! I was just gonna help him break down some boxes. A guy can’t even be helpful these days…

Forge: Shut your ball-washer, junior. Didn't work in high school, ain't fuckin' workin' here.

Before stepping through the doorway, Becca looks at Nathaniel who simply nods. “Check yer eye, lad,” she points out and leaves. A few specks of blood appear on the white part of his left eye after the blow. Shaking his head, he turns to the broken coffee table… and his broken smartphone.

Nathaniel Dixon: Bloody Hell…

He’ll have to find another way to call his beloved.

---

Backstage at the Coleman Coliseum.

Melissa Tasman: I have seen stuff. Weird stuff. I’ve seen so much in a short time it’d make most people's heads spin.

I've never personally seen anything like Lana and Jamie. Daughters of Darkness.

I have a question: who's really afraid of the dark who isn't still a single-digit age?

Let them think what they want about me. They think they have something special. They aren't. No more than me and no worse than anything to date that I've gone through. Loud mouths and big talk. Inflated egos.

Sandra and I are the needle in the haystack to pop that balloon. We showed it before. We can do it again.

Jamie and Lana think we aren't special. Well prove them wrong.

Fade.


As her match approaches, Vanguard Champion Cordelia Clark is backstage trying to focus as much as she can. She’s looking through her phone for a brief second before she puts it away. However, Grace Savoy joins her rather unexpectedly. Cordelia is a bit surprised by this, but she manages to take it in stride.

Grace Savoy: Would you mind a quick word for a couple of minutes?

Cordelia Clark: I suppose not. I seem to always have something to say really.

Grace Savoy: Isn’t that the truth! You effectively lit the room on fire with some of the things you had to say a couple of weeks ago. You really don’t want to be seen as a walkover or a doormat though, I’m not sure where this comes from. For the most part, you’re not seen as a doormat here and you rarely ever have.

Cordelia Clark: It’s a childhood thing, I’m going to be the first to admit that. I grew up being the baby of the family and there were times where it was super annoying. My parents were very protective of me and sometimes, even my sister still is. And you know, at one point in my life, when I was a lot more naive than I am right now, I would be the quiet one that would just shut up and take things, you know? But obviously, in this company, that’s the last thing you can be. I’ve learned how cutthroat this business can be. I stand by what I said with Aleki being the last straw. This match tonight with Nathaniel Dixon is going to be my opportunity to further validate what I’ve been saying. I know he’s going to be tough, but there’s no reason to believe that I can’t come away with a win.

Grace Savoy: Let’s talk about what happened between Griffin Hawkins and Tiffany Lynn Page. The winner of the match was supposed to face you one on one for the Vanguard Championship. However, as you know, it ended up in an undesirable outcome for all involved and the result of the whole affair is a triple threat match. You couldn’t have been happy about this, could you? After all, you effectively got the odds stacked against you due to something out of your control.

Cordelia has to stop and think about how to respond to this for a second knowing that it’s a very hot button question.

Cordelia Clark: Let me be really honest with you. I wasn’t even close to being happy with how that match ended. As you said, it makes it worse for me. You think about the worst case scenario and that’s what happened. But at the end of the day, sometimes, that just happens and the only thing that you can do is make the most out of it and I’ve always prided myself on being a fighting champion. So, you just work with the hand that you’re dealt. Simple as that.

Grace Savoy: Still, the odds themselves are tough enough. But, you’re dealing with not just one, but two wrestlers who are much more experienced than you and...

Cordelia raises a finger to cut off Grace, but doesn’t shove it in her face.

Cordelia Clark: With all due respect, I am going to stop you right there. See, what you just pointed it is among the things that I vented about two weeks ago. I, for one, think that we need to focus less on the experience and more on the results, okay? I’m not trying to be mean, but you can only hear ‘she’s too young and inexperienced to pull through’ over and over and over again until you just get so sick of it. When it comes to results? I’m a double champion. I’ve BEEN a world champion before. I was a world champion in my first company at the age of 22 so this whole ‘youth and inexperience’ narrative needs to just… STOP… alright?

Cordelia pauses and takes a deep breath.

Cordelia Clark: Sorry, that’s really become a pet peeve of mine lately. You know who else had ‘much more experience’ than me? Aleki Kokoa. Javier Duran. I won this championship from both of them. You know who else has ‘much more experience’ than I do? Nathaniel. And look, I respect the guy and everything but at the end of the day, if he thinks he can just walk all over me… and I do trust that he doesn’t think like that… then this won’t end well for him. I have a chip on my shoulder still, I admit that.

But when I win this match tonight? And when I pull through against two people with ‘much more experience’ than me… then maybe the ‘youth and inexperience’ narrative can be left in the past.

Cordelia leaves the interview at that point and Grace looks a bit surprised at the fact that Cordelia was very assertive about the points she just made as the scene fades out.

---

The shot opens on a wall in the hallway somewhere deep within the Coleman Coliseum. There are a lot of shadows decorating the wall as the lights overhead are few and far between. There are distant clicks interspersed with loud, dull thuds. The pair of sounds slowly approach until the sources appear.

First, the redheaded Siren, Katie Simmons appears. She’s dressed all in black, including her dress, boots, and over-the-elbow opera gloves. On her shoulder is the Dark Net Pro Silk Road championship belt. The owner of that title, Katie’s giant husband, Damian Simmons follows close behind. The pair spend the first few moments silently staring down the camera. Katie wears a small smile on her face while Damian’s is that of pure indifference. Finally, Lady Colossus begins to speak

Katie Simmons: You sure do like to talk, huh?

Her smile turns to a wry smirk.

Katie Simmons: I’m of course referring to one Duke Andrews, our Global Heavyweight champion himself. On the last episode of Vanguard. Our fearless champion decided to put my husband’s name in his mouth, among many others during the length of his spiel.

She whispers this next part under her breath.

Katie Simmons: Nevermind how he referenced me as a lowly mouthpiece…

She claps her hands together and raises her voice back to normal.

Katie Simmons: Equivocal descriptors aside, I think I should let you know that you should be careful with what you wish for. You can talk about all the lesser talent you want, claiming how everyone is just following you… But be careful when you invoke the name of the Juggernaut. Because you won’t like the result.

The Enchantress’ smile goes from amused to cocky again.

Katie Simmons: After all, what is a king to a monster? To a veritable god?

Katie turns and looks up at her husband, stroking his beard with her hand for a moment before returning her focus on the viewer again.

Katie Simmons: Duke, you’re the top of the top in HYBRID. So that leads me to believe you know a thing or two about a thing or two. So I implore you to take a word of advice from me. Don’t poke the bear. Keep on keeping on, hug that title close to your chest and pray you never see Damian’s name across from yours in a championship match. Because if you do, you will quickly realize that everything you’ve spent your life building was done so on pillars of salt and sand. Everything you’ve worked for will fall with a single Skyfall.

The Siren holds a gloved hand over her mouth as she giggles.

Katie Simmons: Though Damian might hit one or two more of them. Just because it's funny…

Another small giggle before her amused smile falls back into her arrogant smirk.

Katie Simmons: We may be seeing you later, sweetie. Though, if I were you, I would pray to any god that will listen that we don’t.

She gives the camera a small wave before putting a hand on Damian’s massive chest before walking down the corridor and out of shot of the camera.